Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference
Updated: April 17, 2017
2016-2017 Softball Operating Code
1. ORGANIZATION STRUCTURE
1.1 CONFERENCE STRUCTURE
1.1.1 The Conference consists of three divisions: East, Central and West
1.1.1.1 East: East Stroudsburg, Kutztown, Millersville, Shippensburg, West Chester
1.1.1.2 Central: Bloomsburg, Clarion, IUP, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Pitt-Johnstown
1.1.1.2 West: California, Edinboro, Gannon, Mercyhurst, Seton Hill, Slippery Rock
1.1.2 Conference play shall be conducted with each team playing four games against each opponent in
their respective division for a total of 20 games (Central and West) / 16 games (East). All mandated
conference contests shall count in divisional standings.
1.2 CONFERENCE COMMITTEES
1.2.1 Sports Chairperson: An athletic administrator shall be selected as the chairperson to the softball
coaches. The chair shall preside at meetings of coaches. He/she shall appoint such committees as
shall be deemed necessary for carrying on the affairs of the Conference.
1.3 MEETINGS: Softball coaches will meet at least once per year at times determined by the PSAC office.
1.3.1 Recommendations approved by the coaches at their meetings are presented by the chair to the
Athletics Administrators for action.
1.4 PERSONNEL
1.4.1 Staff Limitations
a. 1 head coach
b. 1 full-time assistant (coaching contract with benefits) or part-time assistant or volunteer
c. 1 paid part-time assistant (half time or less) or graduate assistant or volunteer
d. 1 volunteer
e. 4 TOTAL COACHES
1.4.2 Additional Staffing
a. An institution is also permitted to utilize an unlimited number of full-time undergraduate
students with no limitation of duties.
b. An institution is also permitted to utilize a maximum of one social equity position per sport.
i. The social equity position may not be utilized as the head coach
1.5 NATIONAL LETTER OF INTENT: Each Conference member agrees to abide by the regulations and
procedures outlined in the National Letter-of-Intent Programs.
2. REGULAR SEASON PROCEDURES
2.1 GAME DAY PROCEDURES
2.1.1 Uniforms: Per NCAA rules.
2.1.2 Game Balls: The official game ball is Wilson WTA9010B PSAC.
2.1.3 Host institution shall provide water and ice.
2.1.4 Divisional Play: Time of games - unless otherwise mutually agreed, conference game times are as
follows:
2.1.4.1 Weekday games shall start at 2:00 p.m. before Daylight Savings Time. After Daylight
Savings Time, weekday games will start at 2:30 p.m., unless an institution has lights at which
the start time will be determined by the host school.
2.1.4.2 Weekend games shall not start before noon.
2.1.4.3 Mandated Schedule: The mandated schedule requires that each team play four 7-inning
games (two home and two away) against each team in its division
2.1.4.4 Should the final regular season mandated date on the original schedule be reached and
make-up games still remain to be completed only those contests that have a bearing on the
outcome of the conference tournament seeding will be completed.
2.1.5 NCAA Rules, including the tie-breaker rule (beginning in the 10th inning), shall be used in regular
season play only.
2.1.6 In the event a team is delayed for arrival at the site of competition, the team will be provided 45
minutes of preparation time before the start of competition upon their arrival at the site.
2.1.7 Postponement Due to Weather: Games which are postponed because of weather must be
rescheduled for the next available date. The next available date is defined as a date on which no
conference mandated game has been scheduled or rescheduled.
2.1.7.1 If a team has a non-conference opponent scheduled in advance for any of those dates,
the opponent should be aware of the policy which requires that the non-conference game be
canceled or rescheduled.
2.1.7.2 If conditions permit, teams are encouraged to switch home/away sites in the double
round robin schedule in order to facilitate the playing of the contests.
2.1.7.2.1 If the same team hosts both doubleheaders in the schedule, home/visitor
status for the second doubleheader should be opposite of the first played doubleheader
in order to balance home/visitor status for the season series.
2.1.7.2.2 For all contests, regardless of the determination of home/visitor status, the
HOST institution will be responsible for payment of officials and supplying game balls.
2.1.7.3 If an institution has concerns due to academic issues, the two coaches should turn the
rescheduling of weather-postponed games over to the respective athletic directors.
2.1.7.3.1 To clarify “academic issues” pertaining to the rescheduling policies -- a team
will not be required to TRAVEL consecutively to away-from-home contests in the equivalent of
an academic week of classes (M-W-F or W-F-M or F-M-W and T-Th or Th-T).
2.1.7.4 If an institution is unable to complete a weekend home double-header by Monday at 6
p.m., the Conference Office will determine the sites and dates of any uncompleted contests at
that time.
2.1.7.5 All games, including make-ups, must be scheduled before the last date of the original
mandated schedule.
2.1.7.6 Institutions are required to email/call the conference office with rescheduling changes.
2.1.8 Called Games: All unfinished conference games are considered Halted Games (NCAA Rule) unless
considered a Regulation Game - under the official NCAA rulebook and must be completed from point
of being called. If this involves the second game of a double-header during the teams’ initial meeting,
it must commence at the point of being halted prior to the start of the second set of games between
the two teams.
2.1.8.1 If the Called Game meets the definition of a Regulation Game, then the game may not
be completed during the second meeting of the two teams). If it was impossible to begin the
second game of the initial double header, that game will be played as the first game of a tripleheader at the site of the second meeting. In all cases, the home team will be responsible for
paying the officials for all games played at its site.
2.1.8.2 If during a second meeting of two teams a called game should occur, the visiting team
must return to the site to complete the contests, unless the game meets the definition of a
Regulation Game.
2.1.8.3 Ties may occur in regular season contests as defined by NCAA Rules.
2.1.9 Speed Up Rules: A team may only huddle at the start of an inning. A team will be charged with a
timeout if it huddles subsequent to the one allowable huddle at the start of each inning.
2.1.10 Lightning Policy: The certified athletic trainer from the host institution will have the
unchallengeable authority to postpone or suspend competition in the event of lightning. The certified
athletic trainer and game official/or game administrator must consult and agree as to when play is
resumed.
2.2 GAME OFFICIALS
2.2.1 Officials Fees: Doubleheader – 2017: $238
Doubleheader shortened during game #1 - $205; Doubleheader shortened during game #2 – full
doubleheader fee. Tripleheader fee - $330
2.2.1.1 Host school responsible for paying tripleheader fee
2.2.1.2 The assignor fee is $400/institution and will be billed through the conference office.
2.2.2 PSAC certified umpires must be used for conference and non-conference games.
2.2.3 Post-season selection of officials will be conducted through the conference office.
2.3 GAME ENVIRONMENT
2.3.1 Sportsmanship: The PSAC is committed to developing sportsmanship and creating healthy
environments for competition. We believe that part of the role of education through sports is to
educate all participants in athletic contests to conduct themselves with civility, dignity and respect for
opponents.
2.3.2 Crowd Control Statement: Each member institution is expected to have the following
announcement read prior to each contest (at a minimum). Institutions are encouraged to develop a
format in which participating student-athletes or other enrolled student-athletes recite this (or a
similar statement) prior to competition. “The PSAC and (host institution) promotes good
sportsmanship by student-athletes, coaches and spectators. We request your cooperation by
supporting the participants and officials in a positive manner. Profanity, racial comments or other
intimidating actions directed at officials, student-athletes, coaches or team representatives will not be
tolerated and are grounds for removal from the site of competition. Also, consumption or possession
of alcoholic beverages is prohibited. Thank you for your support of the PSAC and (host institution).”
2.3.1 Artificial noisemakers are permitted at outdoor athletic events except those devices (i.e.
whistles, air horns) that would interfere with the conduct of the contest or those already
prohibited by NCAA regular season playing rules.
2.3.2 The director of athletics or the designated representative is responsible for removing such
instruments from the competition area.
2.3.3 Game Environment, The PSAC and Division II: Institutions have a unique opportunity to establish
the link between the educational purpose of Division II athletics and the competition environment at
Division II events. Game Environment goes beyond the behavior of players and coaches to include all
that surrounds the event, including game administration, fans and student supporters. Sportsmanship
should be regarded as a mandatory subset of game environment. That is, an institution can exhibit
great sportsmanship without having a great game environment. However, it is not possible to have a
great game environment without sportsmanship.
2.4 MEDIA SHARING
2.4.1 Scouting: No member institution is permitted to exchange a scouting report about another
member institution with an institution outside the conference.
3. CHAMPIONSHIP PROCEDURES
3.1 TOURNAMENT FORMAT: The conference tournament shall consist of the top three (3) teams in each
division and the champion shall be determined by a nine-team double elimination bracket. NCAA rules shall be
used.
3.1.1 Division Ties: Tie-breakers for determining conference tournament seeding:
a. Head-to-head results
b. Record versus conference divisional teams progressing downward until the tie is broken
c. Road wins within division
d. Result vs. common opponents outside the league
e. Number of wins against NCAA Division II opponents at or over.500
f. Winning percentage against NCAA Division II opponents under .500
g. Coin toss
3.1.1.1 No play-in games are permitted under conference rules.
NOTES: If there are ties for more than one place, the highest seeds are determined first before
breaking ties for lower seeds. | In the process of breaking the tie among multiple teams, each
tiebreaker step will be calculated until at least one team is awarded a higher seed OR at least one team
is eliminated from the tiebreaker. At that point, remaining ties shall be broken by restarting the
tiebreaker process with the first step.
3.1.2 Non-completed mandated schedule: If because of weather or other natural causes, it becomes
impossible to complete the mandated regular season schedule two days prior to the PSAC
Championship, the following criteria shall be used to determine seeding:
a. Total number of wins in mandated league play.
b. Total number of wins in head-to-head league play.
c. Total number of wins versus divisional champion.
d. Total number of wins of opponents in mandated league play in rank order of finish.
e. Coin toss.
3.1.3 Date/Time: The tournament shall be played in four days and be at least one week prior to the
NCAA Regionals. Refer to Appendix A for times.
3.1.4 Site: The tournament will be played at Quakertown Veterans Park.
3.1.5 Determination of Home Team: The home team for games #1 through #5 will be the higher seed.
Home team for games #6 through #17 will be determined by coin toss. The loser of the coin toss or
lower seed shall choose uniform colors.
3.1.6 NCAA Tournament Qualifier: If the Championship cannot be complete, the following format will
be used to determine a conference champion and the league’s automatic qualifier to the NCAA
Tournament:
a. If less than 10 games are played, a tie will be broken between the three divisional #1 seeds:
1. Based on winning percentage in the respective divisional standings.
2. Record vs. divisional opponents by rank order of finish.
3. Coin toss.
b. If 10 or more, but less than 13 games are played, a tie will be broken among the two
unbeaten teams remaining after Game 10 by:
1. Highest remaining seed.
2. Based on winning percentage in the respective divisional standings.
3. Record vs. divisional opponents by rank order of finish.
4. Coin toss.
c. If 13 or more, but less than 16 games are played, the lone unbeaten team will be declared
conference champion.
d. If 16 games are played and two teams remain with one loss a tie will be broken among the
teams by:
1. Head to head record in the conference tournament.
2. Highest remaining seed.
3. Based on winning percentage in the respective divisional standings.
4. Record vs. divisional opponents by rank order of finish.
5. Coin toss.
3.2 TOURNAMENT PROCEDURES
3.2.1 Tournament Director: Shall be determined on the basis of site.
3.2.1.1 Tournament Director at Institutional Site: The host athletic administrator shall be
responsible for the conduct of the Championship Tournament. It is inadvisable for the coach of
the host institution to be appointed Championship Director if his/her team is a potential
participant in the tournament.
3.2.1.2 Tournament Director at Neutral Site: The softball chair shall be responsible for the
operations of the conference tournament.
3.2.1.3 Tournament Director Duties
a. Attend the pre-tournament conference call of the coaches.
b. Prepare and distribute all necessary information and forms relative to the
tournament.
c. Make all arrangements necessary for the smooth operation of the tournament.
d. Work with the conference softball chairperson in the preparation of post-tournament
financial reports (hosted site only).
3.2.2 Championship Practice Times: To be determined based on availability of facilities. All practice
times are 1 hour long and the practice times will be determined by the teams traveling the farthest to
shortest distance.
3.2.3 Officials: Three officials shall be assigned to each game and will be hired by the conference office
with input from the coaches. The Umpire-In-Chief will meet coaches and team representative in the
pre-tournament meeting.
3.2.4 Coaches Meeting: A mandatory pre-tournament conference call of coaches shall be held. Each
coach shall present an official roster for the PSAC tournament to the softball chairperson. The meeting
will go over clarification of the rules of the tournament and announcements.
3.2.5 Equipment and Maintenance
3.2.5.1 A minimum of four (4) Conference adopted balls shall be provided for each game.
3.2.5.2 Fields must be raked, lined, and watered if necessary before the start of each game.
3.2.5.3 An official scorer’s table with score sheets, line-up cards, and pencils shall be set up at
each field.
3.2.5.4 Emergency aid and training facilities must be available within a reasonable distance.
Each participating team shall be responsible for supplying its own training material (taping,
etc.).
3.2.5.5 Drinking water must be available for each team.
3.2.6 Bench Personnel: Maximum number of personnel permitted in the bench area is 26, not to
exceed 6 non-uniformed personnel. Medical personnel are excluded from the bench personnel limit,
i.e. ATC, student-trainers, physicians.
3.2.6.1 Only the eligible players may dress and sit on the bench.
3.2.6.2 Changes in the roster must be made at pre-tournament meeting.
3.2.7 Certified Athletic Trainers
3.2.7.1 Neutral site- each participating institution is required to provide their own certified
athletic trainer.
3.2.7.2 Hosted site- furnished by host institution.
3.2.8 The Protest Committee shall consist of the two umpires not included in the contested call and
one additional umpire who is not assigned at the time. All protests must be resolved (interpretation of
rules only) before play can resume.
3.2.9 Awards
3.2.9.1 Provided by the conference office. PSAC Champion Trophy, PSAC Runner-up Trophy, 26
Individual Awards to the Championship Team and an MVP Plaque.
3.2.9.2 A Tournament Most Valuable Player shall be selected by the Games Committee.
3.2.9.3 Awards Ceremony Protocol: The second place team is required to remain present at the
site of competition until they are presented with their runner-up trophy.
4. ALL-CONFERENCE AWARD PROCEDURE
4.1 TEAM COMPOSITION and INDIVIDUALS AWARDS
4.1.1 Each Division shall select an All-Conference team consisting of a first team with thirteen (13)
players and five (5) at large selections. At large selections can be from any position.
4.1.2 Fielding positions selected shall be: first base, second base, shortstop, third base, catcher and
three (3) outfielders.
4.1.3. Specialty positions selected shall be: designated player, two (2) pitchers, utility/ pitcher and
utility/non pitcher.
4.1.4 Each Division shall select a Player of the Year, Pitcher of the Year, Coach of the Year and
Freshman of the Year. To be eligible for the Freshman of the Year award, a student-athlete should be
listed by the institution as a freshman or red-shirt freshman and must be competing in their initial year
of eligibility for that sport.
4.1.5 All-Conference players receive a certificate. Individual award winners will receive a plaque.
4.2 NOMINATION PROCEDURES
4.2.1 A coach may nominate no more than the total number of players selected on a first team (13)
from his/her team only.
4.2.2 Fielding position players, designated players and utility players must have played in at least 66%
of her team’s games in order to be nominated.
4.2.3 To qualify as a fielding position player or designated player, a player must have at least 40% of
her total games played at that particular position.
4.2.4 A utility/pitcher shall be defined as one who has contributed through a strong pitching role and
played a minimum of 33% of her games at other positions.
4.2.5 A utility/non-pitcher shall be defined as one who has played a minimum of 33% of her games at a
fielding position or positions outside of her primary (most played) fielding position OR one who has
played at least 50% of her total games in fielding positions but does not meet the requirement to be
nominated at a particular fielding position (see 4.2.3).
4.2.6 An individual can only be nominated at one position.
4.2.6 From his/her team only, a coach may nominate one player each in the categories of: player,
pitcher and freshman of the year.
4.3 VOTING PROCEDURE
4.3.1 A coach may not vote for his/her own players or himself/herself.
4.3.2 For first team selections a coach must cast votes equal to the total number of players selected on
the first team (13) unless unable to due to rule 4.3.1.
4.3.3 Coaches are required to complete a second round of voting to determine the at-large selections.
4.3.4 A coach must rank his/her votes at each position selected.
4.3.5 A ballot must be completed fully in order to be counted.
4.4 MISCELLANEOUS
4.4.1 The All-Conference Team shall be released during the week following the Conference
Championship.
4.4.2 The selection process will be conducted by the Conference Communications Director in
accordance with the PSAC policy.
2017 PSAC Softball Championship Format – Appendix A
Any adjustments in the schedule shall only be made by the Commissioner.
Day One: Wednesday, May 3
Noon Game 1: Central 3 vs. East 3
Game 2: East 1 vs. West 3
3 pm Game 3: Central 2 vs. West 2
Game 4: Central 1 vs. East 2
6 pm Game 5: West 1 vs. Game 1 winner
Game 6: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser (Loser Eliminated)
Day Two: Thursday, May 4
Noon Game 7: Game 5 loser vs. Game 4 loser
Game 8: Game 3 loser vs. Game 6 winner (Loser Eliminated)
3 pm Game 9: Game 3 winner vs. Game 2 winner
Game 10: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner
6 pm Game 11: Game 9 loser vs. Game 7 winner (Loser Eliminated)
Game 12: Game 10 loser vs. Game 8 winner (Loser Eliminated)
Day Three: Friday, May 5
Noon Game 13: Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner
3 pm Game 14: Game 11 winner vs. Game 12 winner (Loser Eliminated)
6 pm Game 15: Game 13 loser vs. Game 14 winner (Loser Eliminated)
Day Four: Saturday, May 6
noon: If one game is needed (Game 13 winner wins Game 16)
Game 16: Championship Game
noon: If two games are needed (Game 15 winner wins Game 16)
Game 16
Game 17: Championship Game (Immediately following Game 16)
PSAC Tournament First Game Rotation
2018
Game 1:
Game 2:
Game 3:
Game 4:
Game 5:
West 3 vs. Central 3
Central 1 vs. East 3
West 2 vs. East 2
West 1 vs. Central 2
East 1 vs. Game 1 winner
2019
Game 1:
Game 2:
Game 3:
Game 4:
Game 5:
East 3 vs. West 3
West 1 vs. Central 3
East 2 vs. Central 2
East 1 vs. West 2
Central 1 vs. Game 1 winner